Diana Alvarez @ Queer Adventure Storytelling: New England

Queer Adventure Storytelling began in Portland, Oregon last year as a way to elevate and highlight lesser heard voices and stories in the outdoor world. Over the past year we've had dozens of readers from varied backgrounds presenting their adventure and travel stories.

Mercy and Travis are excited to bring you the New England Edition, Wednesday, June 13th 7-9pm.

Doors: 6:30pm Event: 7:00pmCost: $5 (No one turned away)Proceeds after rent will be donated to Out Now Youth (outnowyouth.org) in Springfield, MA

Diana Alvarez is Xicana singer-songwriter, poet, composer, and documentary filmmaker whose voice has been described as “soulful and natural” by Natalie Merchant and "transcendent" by Pamela Means. Diana’s poetry chapbook, Consultations with Bruja Juana, was published by Toadlily Press (2009), and two of Diana’s poems appeared in The Best of Toadlily Press (2011). In October 2017, Diana staged Quiero Volver: A Xicanx Ritual Opera, a multimedia performance she composed to honor women, non-binary, and genderqueer people of color, at Holyoke Community College (Holyoke, MA). Diana is an artist/scholar completing her PhD in Electronic Arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she researches the artistic gatherings of women, non-binary, and genderqueer artists of color. Additionally, Diana loves deep listening meditation and hiking as essential parts of her artistic process.

Raei(Ray) is a 22 year old outdoorsmxn. The land has always been a place that made sense to him. He created a organization called The Rusty Anvil that reteaches primitive living skills in an attempt to encourage what he calls bush-crafted mindfulness and indigenous sustainability. A focus on a symbiotic relationship with the land and our souls. Currently in Massachusetts Raei is forming new adventures for all those who seek authenticity! You can check out his website at the-rusty-anvil.com and follow them on instagram! @the_rusty_anvil.com

Mason Dunn (he, him, his) is the executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and co-chair of the Freedom for all Massachusetts campaign. An avid outdoors enthusiast, Mason is hiking across Massachusetts in August 2018 in the #Hike4Rights project, to promote the rights of trans people in accessing public spaces. https://www.hike4rights.org/

Ev Evnen (pronouns: they/them/theirs) is the Director of MaeBright Group, LLC. MaeBright works with Massachusetts state agencies, non-profits, and communities to evaluate and improve their climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning + (LGBTQ+) people. Ev holds an MPP and MBA from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis, and continues to be involved as a member of the Alumni Board and a mentor in the 2017 and 2018 Heller Start Up Challenge. Ev spent their childhood and teenage years camping and hiking with their family and with their Jewish Summer Camp. Having grown up in Nebraska, big, wide, open spaces, like the desert and prairie, ground them. The woods of New England have gained a special place in Ev's heart over the past decade as well.

And your hosts:

Mercy Shammah is the Lead Outdoorist at Wild Diversity. Founding Wild Diversity is about creating space for the POC community and queer folks to outdoor in the way that works best for them. Wild Diversity works towards making spaces and outdoor activities safe, comfortable and accessible for our community. (Mercy will also be presenting!)

Travis Clough is a queer lover of mountains and all things outdoor adventure. Originally from Maine, he now adores exploring the Cascades. He is the Director of Operations & Instructor for the The Venture Out Project - ventureoutproject.com, an LGBTQ+ outdoor organization based out of Portland, OR and Northampton, MA.